4 Months Later, Bullied Springfield Student Remains Home

SPRINGFIELD, NJ — It will be four months on Saturday since Springfield fourth-grader Emma Spektor stopped going to school over an intense fear of bullies.

She remains home as of Jan. 17 and a federal lawsuit against the Springfield School District filed by Emma's mother Irina has yet to be resolved. Emma's last day at school was Sept. 20.

"Emma is still home," Irina told Patch. "That is all I can really share with you at this time."

Irina has said in the past that she will keep Emma home for own safety and didn't want a repeat situation such as in Rockaway where 12-year-old Mallory Grossman took her own life following bullying at her school.

"I would rather her repeat fourth grade then lose her forever," Irina previously said.

Irina filed the lawsuit in November 2017 for refusing to transfer Emma to another classroom due to bullying issues.

She sent a letter during the last week of October to Superintendent Michael Davino from Emma's pediatrician instructing the school to immediately transfer her to another classroom following a three-hour full psychological exam that resulted in a diagnosis of depression and anxiety.

But school officials refused.

Irina has been fighting with the district since before school began in September to try and get Emma transferred away from the bullies.

Emma said the bullying began when she was in the third grade during the 2016-17 school year. She opened up to her mother about the daily bullying at the end of last year. She then found out that her entire class, the same students and teacher, were being kept together for the fourth grade — otherwise known as looping.

The bullying continued into fourth grade until Irina pulled Emma out of school on Sept. 20.

Superintendent Michael Davino gave a 20-point speech at the Nov. 6 board meeting attempting to correct what he claimed were half-truths reported by Spektor and parroted by the media. (Read the 20-point speech here: Mom Of Bullied Springfield 4th Grader Responds To Superintendent)

Davino also went on to discredit Irina and Emma's accounts and claimed the only reason Irina wanted Emma moved was because she didn't like the teacher. He also noted their bullying accounts were "unsubstantiated."

He said Emma was reportedly seen at the homes of her alleged bullies, and that an offer to move Emma to another school had been extended. The lawsuit was filed after this encounter.

A group of parents have also started a movement called "Limit Looping" as a result of this incident and others at the school district.

Since Spektor went public about her bullying situation at the district, parents shared with the Board of Education disturbing accounts of bullying incidents they say have gone unaddressed by the school district. (See Related: Disturbing Accounts Of Rampant Bullying Shared At Packed Meeting)

More parents also came forward to talk with Patch about their own children's experiences in the district. One parent even said she moved because of the bullying. (See Related: Springfield Family Moves To Get Away From Bullies)

Another parent claimed a bullying incident was caught on school's cameras and nothing was done. (See Related: Springfield Bullying Incident Allegedly Caught On Camera)

See Related:

• Springfield 4th Grader Won't Go To School Because Of Bullies, Mom's Plea For New Classroom Rejected
• Students Shouldn't Have Same Class, Teacher Two Years In A Row, 'Frustrated' Parents Say
• Mom Of Bullied Springfield 4th Grader Responds To Superintendent

(Image via Irina Spektor: Emma Spektor)

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.